Tag Archives: fitness

Jamie is a rock climber, alpine climber, free solo climber, and mountaineer. The CanPrev Team thinks he’s more of a monkey, but you can decide for yourself.

Conquering the Canadian Rockies

Jamie discovering mountain running was like finding buried treasure; the excitement and thrill is just as monkeys finding bananas. Starting his mountain adventures at the age of 30, Jamie realized that rock climbing, mountain climbing, and alpine running allows him to explore his full athletic potential, where he strives to be healthier and in turn, improve his athletic performance.

Regardless of the weather, Jamie is out on the mountains. His goal is to climb every single mountain within a 200 kilometre radius of Banff, and is always aiming to become faster and stronger through intense training and healthy lifestyle. The adrenaline during his climbs and feelings of accomplishment at the peak is what drives his desire to attain a healthy and fit body, so that he can be the best possible version of himself.

A Memorable Mountain Adventure

There is no easy way to reach the summit of Mount Louis near Banff, Alberta. It is an alpine climb in which most experienced parties spend 8-12 hours to complete. For Jamie’s high intensity free-solo climb, he managed to achieve a time of 5 hours and 30 minutes, round trip, that included alpine climbing and rappelling, reaching an elevation of over 1,500m high. Though happy with this climb, Jamie hopes to return and conquer Mount Louis in less than 4 hours.

Words from Jamie

“Fitness and athletics are my life. There’s no feeling quite like making it to the top of a rock climbing route. When you get to the summit of a mountain, look down and see a tiny speck, which you realize is your car, you wonder how it’s even possible to accomplish that. You’re in a state of euphoria and you feel so connected to your own body and your environment. It’s incredibly addicting.” – Jamie Junker

Jamie’s Favourites

Natural products that give awesome results are the best. The reason why Jamie loves CanPrev is because everything is so raw. It helps him to stay energized during his trek and promote faster recovery after each trip, so that he can move forward to conquer the next Canadian Rocky Mountain!

Connect with Jamie:

In the hot summer weather, Jamie can be found jumping from peak to peak, climbing up slabs of rock, or poking his head through soft chilly fog; where in the cold Canadian winters, he can be spotted ice climbing up the rocky mountains, digging pits in the ground as shelters, or swiftly skiing through puffy white snow.

Year-round, you can catch him taking selfies of his epic adventures. Check him out!

Optimizing nutrition when you’re an athlete (or even if you workout regularly) can make a significant difference in your health and performance on the court, field or at the gym.

Just like exercising your muscles through cardiovascular workouts or strength training is important, so is fueling your body properly through your diet. Unfortunately, when this doesn’t happen it can negatively affect performance, and in some cases, impair immune function. [1] [2]

Increased Energy and Nutrient Needs

Focusing on some key nutrients can not only increase endurance in the athlete but also improve overall health by bolstering the immune system, improving bone health and minimizing oxidative stress.

Eating adequate amounts of micronutrients and vitamins is vital to muscle building and recovery from the physiological stress of intense activity or playing sports. Nutrient needs are increased when metabolic and biochemical pathways are taxed via exercise which is used to repair lean tissue.

Supplements can help but the idea is to make food your primary source of nutrients because your body utilizes food differently than supplements. [3]

Food also includes fibre, other vitamins and essential nutrients that work together to create energy and fuel cells. These important components in the diet are more depleted in athletes that don’t consume adequate calories and/or restrict or eliminate food groups.

The 6 Most Essential Nutrients For Athletic People:

Individuals who are athletic are especially susceptible to being low in zinc mainly because they aren’t eating enough rich food sources of this mineral.

Zinc plays a part in immunity, protein utilization, and metabolic efficiency as well as thyroid function, and all of these affect athletic performance in some way.

Foods that are high in zinc include meat and poultry, whole grains, oysters, milk and dairy, legumes and fortified breakfast cereals.

Those that are most at risk for a deficiency are vegetarians who don’t eat enough whole grains or meat. It must be noted that overdoing zinc supplementation can result in a copper deficiency. Be sure to consult your healthcare practitioner to discuss supplementation.

Iron is necessary for the metabolism of carbohydrates, protein, and fat as well as its capacity to carry oxygen. A deficiency may inhibit endurance as well as immune and cognitive functions.

Foods that are high in iron include red meat, fortified cereals eaten along with fruit or vegetables that are high in vitamin C. This vitamin will enhance iron absorption and improve iron status in an individual.

This vitamin is needed for adequate calcium absorption in the gut, to control serum calcium and phosphorus and to build strong bones. It also contributes to a well functioning nervous and skeletal system.

If a person lives in an area with little sunlight and they spend most of their time indoors, and because there aren’t many foods that contain vitamin D without fortification, they’re at a greater risk of having low Vitamin D – in this case, supplementation may be prudent.

The best sources are fatty fish like salmon, tuna or mackerel, and eggs. Fortified milk offers most of the vitamin D in the average diet with fortified orange juice beverages and certain cereals contributing a small amount. Again, supplementation is a wise choice!

Magnesium aids in more than 300 biochemical processes in the body that include:

helps produce ATP, essential to the metabolic activities of every cell

protein synthesis for muscle building

relaxes muscles and nerves

calms the mind

aids in calcium absorption

regulation of blood pressure & heart rhythm

All of which are concerns to an athlete!

Sources of Magnesium include green leafy vegetables, nuts, whole grains, seeds, meat and dairy. Some breakfast cereals are also fortified with Magnesium.

However, as we explained in “Nutrient Deficiencies: Why Nearly Everyone Has Them!”, the composition of what we eat and the quality of our foods has drastically changed over the past hundred years, and this has made it difficult to get enough of many key minerals, especially magnesium.

B vitamins all play a rather large role in energy metabolism and blood health along with building and repair of muscle tissue.

A deficiency can lead to fatigue, muscle soreness and apathy along with poor cognitive function. Meat, fish and poultry, as well as enriched grains, are good sources of B vitamins.

The bottom line on essential nutrients for everyday athletes:

Regular exercise and sports participation increases the turnover and loss of nutrients from the body, so greater calories, vitamins, and minerals are needed to cover these losses through the diet and in some cases supplementation.

Eating a wide enough variety of foods from all the major food groups is what is needed for proper functioning of muscles, a strong immune system, and optimal performance during athletic endeavours.

“When you’re the strongest and fittest you’ve ever been, the last thing you think you are is unhealthy and the last words you expect to hear are, you have cancer” — Jill Bunny

The “C” word

Being told you have cancer is something you don’t ever expect to hear at a routine check-up, especially when you’re young and dedicate your life to staying fit. Fitness model Jill Bunny didn’t expect to hear it either. This Toronto native was one of the highest ranked IFBB bikini competitors in the world. To her peers, she was the picture of health physically and professionally. But Jill’s inner strength would soon be tested. Unusual symptoms Jill was experiencing told her that something wasn’t quite right. A double diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and thyroid cancer catapulted Jill into the competition of her life.

To many different degrees, we have all faced health challenges individually. This is the story of a top fitness competitor who fought the biggest battle of her life and came out with a new approach to finding her best health.

Her Story

Functional nutritionist, elite trainer, life coach and bikini model competitor, these are only a few titles Jill Bunny goes by. Jill has always been fascinated by what the human body is capable of. When she was diagnosed with MS and thyroid cancer at age 30, her passion for health and fitness took a different turn. She retired from competition as the physical toll training took on her body would likely advance the progression of MS and slow recovery from a thyroidectomy to come.

Instead, she found other ways to challenge herself physically and mentally. She continued to train and mentor others through her company, Fit Bunnies Fitness, as she recovered from cancer. It was during this time that Jill found the motivation to learn more about healing from the inside out. Through a team of functional medicine practitioners and her Naturopathic Doctor (ND), she found more preventative ways to manage her MS symptoms. Along the way, her own interest in how the body works expanded and she began to study functional medicine in her quest to find healing and to make her body stronger than ever before.

Case Study

Jill approached Dr. Nadia Lamanna ND, in April 2017 for a natural approach to managing her symptoms. Since having a thyroidectomy in November 2016, Jill struggled with fluctuating thyroid hormone levels, extreme fatigue and brain fog. The fatigue and muscle pain associated with MS was becoming a major obstacle in managing her business and training for an upcoming ironwoman race. She chose not to take prescription medication but instead managed the disease through diet, exercise and naturopathic medicine. Her chief concerns were low energy, neck pain and long recovery periods after work outs.

Dr. Lamanna ND, began treating Jill the next month with 200mg of CanPrev Magnesium Bis-Glycinate 200 Gentle before bed, one sachet of CanPrev ElectroMag to mix with water and to consume while training, two capsules of CanPrev Adrenal-Pro twice daily, one capsule of CanPrev Pro-Biotik 15B daily, and one capsule of CanPrev Thyroid-Pro twice daily. After two weeks the Magnesium Bis-Glycinate 200 Gentle was increased to 400 mg per day and ElectroMag to two pouches per day because Jill added a cycle class to her evening fitness routine. Jill reported she was taking Synthroid 88 mcg per day when she first met with Dr. Lamanna, this was later increased to 100 mcg per day in early May as directed by her endocrinologist.

Results

Baseline scores were reported on April 10 and after only a few weeks of therapy, Jill reported improved symptoms like reduced neck pain, improved ability to recover post workout and a significant improvement in energy levels. She reported having bursts of energy and diminished grogginess during the times of day that she typically felt her worst. Her TSH in April was 4.79 and dropped to 0.59 in June, after just seven weeks of therapy. Jill’s endocrinologist was ecstatic with the results and asked what she had been doing differently. Her TSH levelled out at 1.15 in July. Jill was optimistic and motivated throughout the duration of the study and overjoyed about the progress she made along the way.

Words from Jill

“The last thing that I felt was missing in my quest to heal, was the implementation of natural, quality supplements. Working with my Naturopath on an individual basis, with weekly check-ins was exactly what I needed to get the supplementation correct. Today, I can honestly say that I have not felt this much energy in at least a decade. Go with your gut and listen to your body. Take an individualized approach to your health and do what you feel is right and works best for.”

Connect with Jill

If you happen to be an Instagram lover (like Jill is) you can follow her profile @fitbunnyjill. To find out more about her health story and to train with her, visit www.fitbunnies.ca.

Here at CanPrev, we are all about our community. Because without a platform to connect with individuals – we cannot learn, grow, educate, motivate or inspire. That’s where our ambassadors come in. These individuals are dedicated to living life to the fullest! They are continually learning and growing, sharing their knowledge and experience, in hopes to motivate another and let inspiration, by default, move more and more individuals forward.

For anyone who has thought about giving up on achieving better health – look to these individuals for inspiration in order to improve the quality of your life. Their collective goal is always to offer inspiration and to be a catalyst in spreading CanPrev’s healthy lifestyle vibe across the nation!

Today on the blog we are introducing Mike Levine – from the six!

Entrepreneur, post TBI – Fitness and Health Advocate, Traveler, Mentor, Menswear Stylist and full time Finance Coach – This Toronto based CanPrev Ambassador, continues to inspire us mentally, physically and emotionally. Learning about him and his lifestyle approach, will explain why!

Mike is working on becoming the best version of himself. Just over 4 years ago he suffered a traumatic brain injury, he has since worked to enhance every aspect of his life! Being diligent with nutrition and balancing activities with training routines, helps him stay focused on adding value to his life. Serious stuff! But the kind of stuff, that is truly inspiring and takes courage.

From The Minimalists

We asked Mike how he decides now, post injury, “what makes it to the top of your priority list?” “If I cannot say, Hell Yes! (taken from the Minimalists) to something on my calendar, then there is no time or energy for it”! Pretty gutsy words to live by. We like it!

Today, Mike fully embraces a healthy active lifestyle, both physically and emotionally, implementing mindful daily habits, whether he is at work or play. The emotional work is a necessity given his injury and the symptoms it came with. Rather than be discouraged, his outlook remains positive. He quotes George Mumford regarding his need to transform his lifestyle post accident – “my ass was on fire” and I had no choice. He mentions that his transformation has not moved forward without the support of CanPrev. We are thrilled for him!

When Mike isn’t training, reading or mentoring, he works as a financial coach. He enjoys assisting business owners and high net worth families preserve, grow and live a lifestyle that they worked so hard to attain. He equally enjoys helping others achieve both their financial and personal goals. Mike is grateful that his work is rewarding in this way; his entrepreneurial spirit grows and thrives with this group.

Words From Levine

As an ambassador, I love sharing my knowledge of the various CanPrev products! I have learned so much about the health and wellness industry and am becoming more informed and in tune when someone asks me to relate my experiences. I continue to feel the benefits from supplementing with natural health care products.

Electromag is definitely my number one! I find a positive effect with my sleep patterns. With the added magnesium – it’s great for muscle recovery! I use it during and after workouts for enhanced recovery, hydration and relaxation.

I regularly use a core group of CanPrev products which include: Synergy B, Electromag, Antioxidant Network, Adrenal support, Mind Pro, Omega 3’s, all of which enhance my performance at work and in fitness.

Hideouts in The Six

I really crave and have a fiery passion for health and fitness. You will find me training at the Academy of Lions in a Crossfit class or cycling with my Garrison Bespoke clients and friends; then resetting in a hot yoga class at Moksha Uptown. I recently discovered bouldering (rock climbing) at Joe Rockhead’s – what a blast! A super fun intense workout with friends.

In addition, I run weekly with the Lululemon run crew on Ossington. To accompany my mindfulness practice, I have also incorporated the Muse headband into my daily life (@choosemuse); I have committed to reading a book every 2 weeks for the next year and I love traveling to new exciting cities – all to stimulate my mind. And to add balance, I enjoy spending time at the family cottage in Haliburton; I am really excited to become a part of BIST, The Brain Injury Society of Toronto, where I will be writing for their blog and mentoring someone recovering from a brain injury.

My transformation and transition is improving and I hope – will continue! I remember to take some time be grateful everyday.

Inspired

We are thrilled to have Mike be apart of our ambassador team! A truly dedicated soul to finding personal wellbeing, by choosing daily, no matter the obstacles – to live life to the fullest and have a blast doing it! Levine reminds us to listen to that voice in our heads. The one that is telling us to work at becoming our best self, on all levels! He reminds us that there is no time like the present to find positivity and to make doing what you love, a priority.

Corporate Junkie Turns Fitness Guru

In this second part of our “CanPrev Ambassador” series, we introduce to you a Toronto native. Someone who truly knows the meaning of transformation and taking risks.

Many Hats

Meet Jessie Lam – Personal Trainer, Yoga Teacher, Registered Holistic Nutritionist, Thai Yoga Massage Practitioner, and Bellies Inc. Certified Core Specialist! Among all of these credentials, she also specializes in working with pre and postpartum mamas.

As a fitness and yoga guru,she strives to educate people in her own teachings to find better health. She teaches about understanding your own individual body and what works for you! Most importantly, she helps her clients learn how to find balance in achieving health goals – creating balanced lifestyles – not just a short-term fix. Jessie loves seeing the mental and spiritual transformations in her clients. These incredible transformations keep her motivated, personally and professionally!

Corporate Junkie

You wouldn’t know it now – but Jessie admits her health journey started out after too many late nights and alcoholic beverages left her feeling “uncomfortable” in her own skin. Long ago she was a nine to five corporate junkie, binging on fried foods after work and regularly overindulging at happy hour.

After taking the “safe” route, post studying finance at the University of Toronto, she worked for 7 years in the banking and finance industry. Although she did work periodically at a gym during this time, she kept her fitness routine quite casual. She thought that climbing the corporate latter would eventually lead to feelings of success and happiness. In the latter stages of her finance career, she suffered greatly from a number of symptoms indicating sub-optimal health. A consistently high-stress environment doubled with poor nutrition, left Jessie suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome and a strong passion and desire to change her lifestyle!
Jessie finally took what would be the biggest risk of her life and left the corporate world to get healthy and pursue a career as a yoga teacher, trainer, and nutritionist! In the beginning, there were many unknowns and scary moments. But now Jessie says, she gets to work with and hang out with amazing people every day. Her clients, other entrepreneurs and other health and wellness professionals continue to inspire her.

Two is More Powerful than One

A particularly inspiring story, not only because Jessie herself decided to leave her high paying corporate job in order to follow her passion – but because her husband (former accountant) decided to also quit his job simultaneously! Together they pursued their passions and have been working ever since to build careers in the health and wellness industry.
It took time and it certainly wasn’t easy but years later Jessie explains, “Once we had found better living – we both wanted to help others live a life free of pain and illness. We wanted others to reach their full potential and heal from conditions that kept them from achieving their own life goals”.

Jessie and her husband both remain humble and grateful and admit that if they didn’t listen to their hearts and take big risks – they would not be where they are today. They continue to be busy health and wellness entrepreneurs in Toronto. In their spare time, they love to travel, hike, explore and continue to learn and grow as leaders in their field!

Not only is Jessie known for her busy practice in Toronto, she can easily be found on Instagram @Iamjessfit. With over fifteen thousand followers and a bold reputation, this guru isn’t afraid to show her stuff for the greater good. A must see for anyone online looking to learn, be inspired and entertained all at the same time! With almost fifteen years under her belt in the health and fitness industry, Jessie doesn’t plan on packing it in anytime soon. This yoga and fitness guru does just as much learning as she does teaching!

In Our Own Hands

We are proud to have Jessie on our ambassador team! Her brave and bold attitude towards taking health in your own hands is truly inspiring. and greatly resembles our mission! When we spoke with Jessie about what being a CanPrev ambassador means to her, she replied, “It means being a part of a family, sharing a common vision, passion, and drive. It’s about empowering one another and the rest of the world, to take health into their own hands. It’s about encouraging each other to take control of our lives”.

That is why we have created a community of CanPrev ambassadors – to encourage and inspire all individuals to take action towards finding your best health!